Babar Azam Faces Intense Online Trolling After Scoring Duck in T20I Comeback Against South Africa
Pakistan’s cricket star Babar Azam faced severe backlash after his disappointing performance in the first T20I against South Africa in Rawalpindi. This match, held on October 28, 2025, marked Babar’s return to T20I cricket after nearly a year.
Babar Azam’s Disappointing Comeback
Returning to the T20I format, Babar Azam was unable to make an impact. He fell victim to fast bowler Corbin Bosch, scoring a duck and lasting only two balls on the pitch. His dismissal occurred in the sixth over, where a mistimed shot resulted in a simple catch for Reeza Hendricks positioned at cover.
Social Media Reaction
The cricket community reacted strongly to Babar’s performance. Many social media users took to platforms to express their disappointment and ridicule, resulting in intense online trolling. Memes and harsh criticisms flooded platforms with hashtags like #BabarAzam trending.
- “Can’t bat can’t field, burden on Pakistan team,” posted one user.
- “Unreal downfall of Babar Azam. Now he can’t score even against B or C teams,” commented another fan.
Fielding Struggles
Babar’s troubles weren’t limited to his batting. He also missed a crucial catch in the 17th over while fielding. Attempting to catch a hit from George Linde off Shaheen Afridi, Babar dropped a simple sitting catch, which could have turned the tide for Pakistan.
Match Summary
Despite Babar’s struggles, South Africa managed to post a competitive total of 194 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their 20 overs. Linde contributed significantly to the score, making 36 runs off 22 balls.
Team Line-ups
| Pakistan XI | South Africa XI |
|---|---|
| Saim Ayub | Quinton de Kock (wk) |
| Sahibzada Farhan | Reeza Hendricks |
| Babar Azam | Tony de Zorzi |
| Salman Agha (c) | Dewald Brevis |
| Usman Khan (wk) | Matthew Breetzke |
| Hasan Nawaz | Donovan Ferreira (c) |
| Mohammad Nawaz | George Linde |
| Faheem Ashraf | Corbin Bosch |
| Shaheen Afridi | Lizaad Williams |
| Naseem Shah | Nandre Burger |
| Abrar Ahmed | Lungi Ngidi |
Babar Azam’s return to T20I cricket will need significant improvement following this match if he wishes to silence his critics and regain his form in the eyes of fans and selectors alike.
